British Airborne veteran John Waddy passed away on Sunday afternoon at the age of 100. The colonel was the last officer of the Battle of Arnhem who was still alive, reports Gelderland broadcaster.
Waddy died in his sleep, says ‘veteran mother’ and good friend Hiltje van Eck. The veteran turned 100 in June. “He received a medal from the Dutch embassy on his birthday, which was very nice.”
The so-called ‘Thank You Liberators Medal’ was actually to be awarded at the commemoration, but that plan was canceled due to the corona virus. Although it was also the question whether Waddy had come to Arnhem. “He was a very proud man, as soon as he had to walk with sticks or crutches he stopped coming”, says Van Eck.
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